If the newer, fiercer version of Cinderella has you wanting to relive the fairytale over and over, here’s a look at all the Cinderella movies you can watch now, from the classic to the oh-so-creative.
Cinderella Movie Adaptations and Remakes
Cinderella (1914)
Believe it or not, before it was a Disney classic, Cinderella was a silent film. This 1914 movie was shot in black and white and featured legendary screen star MaryPickford in the title role. The plot mostly follows the classic storyline—until the end, when a courtier offers to behead Cinderella’s stepfamily for mistreating her (she declines). The 52-minute movie is currently available to watch in its entirety for free on YouTube.
Cinderella (1950)
Disney’s animated Cinderella feature film is arguably the world’s most well-known and well-loved version. Released in 1950, it sticks to the standard story, telling the tale of a down-on-her-luck young woman and her journey to becoming a princess—a pumpkin morphs into a carriage, mice become footmen, and Cinderella wears a gorgeous blue gown to the ball—with help along the way from a heavenly fairy godmother and some furry and feathered friends. At the end, she finds true love with Prince Charming and leaves her wicked stepfamily in the dust. Even if you’ve never seen Disney’s Cinderella (although, how is that possible?! And also, you can correct that on Disney+), you probably still know the most famous song from the production: “Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo.”
The Glass Slipper (1955)
This live-action version of Cinderella is packed with memorable dance sequences while telling the story of Ella (Leslie Caron), a tomboy who has been forced into servitude by her stepmom and stepsisters. She ends up meeting Prince Charles, the son of the Duke who rules her principality. He invites her to the local ball, where they dance. People assume she’s an Egyptian princess (no word on why) and Ella accidentally leaves behind a glass slipper when she flees to escape her stepfamily. Word spreads that Prince Charles is going to marry an Egyptian princess and Ella is devastated. But Prince Charles eventually meets up with her, puts on the glass slipper, and then says that he wants to marry her. The unrated film is available to buy or rent on YouTube.
Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella (1957)
This made-for-TV musical originally aired live on CBS in 1957 and starred Julie Andrews, who was then mostly known as a theater actress, as Cinderella. With a book and score by the legendary musical duo of Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II, this Cinderella was broken up into three acts, like a play, while the original story mostly remains the same—except when Cinderella gets arrested while hiding in the palace garden as people try to find the owner of the glass slipper. This hidden gem, which was a huge hit when it debuted, deserves to be remembered more but can be hard to find; however, you can stream a full dress rehearsal of the production for free on YouTube (see below), or you can purchase it on DVD.
Cinderfella (1960)
In this twist on the classic story, a fairy godfather (Ed Wynn) tells the titular Fella (Jerry Lewis) that he’s been specially picked to fix all the issues that have been caused by the original Cinderella story. This is where things get… not so great. The biggest issue, the godfather says, is that Cinderella gave women unrealistic expectations that they would find their own Prince Charming—and as a result, they’re not satisfied with being married to normal men and become nagging women. Things pretty much go downhill from there. Curious to see how it all unfolds? You can buy or rent Cinderfella on YouTube.
Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella (1965)
Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella was remade for TV in 1965 with Lesley Ann Warren as its star. The storyline is the same as the classic version, with Cinderella finding love at a ball. She almost misses her chance to try on the glass slipper, until she manages to intercept Prince Charming by offering him a drink of water from a well before he takes off from her home. He recognizes her, and the rest is history. You can currently watch this version for free on YouTube.
The Slipper and the Rose: The Story of Cinderella (1976)
This musical version of Cinderella features an entirely different slate of songs by American brotherly songwriting duo Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman, who also co-penned the legendary Mary Poppins score. The plot starts off classic, then veers a little crazy: Prince Edward (Richard Chamberlain) is supposed to marry someone he doesn’t love. Meanwhile, Cinderella (Gemma Craven) is working as a servant to her stepfamily. Edward’s family insists on throwing a ball so he can meet another princess and Cinderella ends up attending with the help of her fairy godmother. The two fall in love and Edward eventually finds her, only for his family to reject Cinderella because she’s not a princess. Edward agrees to marry a real princess but vows that he won’t have children. Cinderella ends up showing up at the wedding in a wedding gown, his family decides they can get married, and the princess that Edward was supposed to marry falls in love with his cousin (!). The Slipper and the Rose may be most famous for its music, especially the song “The Slipper and the Rose Waltz (He/She Danced With Me).” It was not only nominated for a Best Original Song Oscar, but none other than the UK’s Queen Mother reportedly told the Sherman Brothers at the film’s premiere, “The waltz you wrote for the ballroom scene is the most beautiful song I’ve ever heard.” The Slipper and the Rose is currently free to stream on YouTube.
Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella (1997)
Third time’s the charm? Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella was remade again in 1997 as a TV movie, starring Brandy as Cinderella and Whitney Houston as her fairy godmother. Whoopi Goldberg, Jason Alexander, Bernadette Peters and more big names also starred in the movie. The storyline is classic, until Cinderella’s stepsisters realize that she was the woman from the ball and she ends up locked in the kitchen when the Prince comes to find her. The two ultimately get married in a lavish ceremony that her stepfamily isn’t invited to, but fans are invited to stream the 1997 version on Disney+.
Ever After: A Cinderella Story (1998)
Starring Drew Barrymore, this Cinderella story is set in Renaissance-era France and puts a decidedly feminist bent on the boy-meets-girl-boy-rescues-girl narrative. Barrymore plays Danielle de Barbarac, who is forced to work as a servant for her stepfamily (including the sinister-good AnjelicaHuston in the evil stepmother role). Meanwhile, a nearby prince (DougrayScott) is set to enter into an arranged marriage, but he ends up meeting Danielle and is intrigued by her. A ball is set where the prince must meet someone to marry or follow through with his arranged marriage. Danielle shows up in a gorgeous dress and wings made by Leonardo da Vinci (one of many real-life historical details peppered throughout this retelling). Danielle’s stepmother discovers the prince is in love with her and sells her be a servant to someone else. The prince eventually tracks her down, the two get married, and Danielle’s stepfamily is forced to work in the palace laundry room. You can stream Ever After on Disney+.
A Cinderella Story (2004)
Cinderella gets the teen rom-com treatment with A Cinderella Story, starring Hilary Duff as 17-year-old Sam Montgomery, who works at her stepmother’s diner after her father died in an earthquake. (Bonus: The stepmother this time around is played by White Lotus scene-stealer Jennifer Coolidge!) Sam is trying to save up funds to attend Princeton, but her stepsisters keep stealing her money. Along the way, Sam forms a friendship with her online pen pal “Nomad” (Chad Michael Murray), who turns out to be her school’s popular football quarterback. Adolescent angst and intrigue ensue! The movie is currently streamable on Netflix.
Another Cinderella Story (2008)
Cinderella (2015)
Cinderella took some time off before appearing back on the big screen in a 2015 version directed by British filmmaker Kenneth Branagh that became a box-office smash. The highly theatrical Disney live-action movie features Lily James as Ella, Cate Blanchett as the stepmom, RichardMadden as the Prince and Helena Bonham Carter as the Fairy Godmother. In other words, come for the A-list cast—but stay for the sumptuous costumes, romantic score and old-fashioned, nostalgic optimism. You can stream it now via Starz. Next, if you’re looking for a dose of joy, check out our list of 50 feel-good films you can stream right now!
